Valve construction for gas lift pumps



Jan. 20, 1931.

A. F. WHITE ET AL VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR GAS LIFT PUMPS Filed Sept. 5.1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l fifa/way Yx \-HHHHHHMMMWV@MMy/ u-V.WWWMMMIVMMVH@Wn z/J a a Jan. 20, 1931. y A. F W|||TE E1- AL 1,789,855

VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR GAS LIFT PUMPS Filed Sept. 5. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet2 fnf/7gg Pmnied Jan) 2go, -1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE An'rnun E.WHITE, oE rnLLEa'ron, AND imm w. JORDAN, 0E Los ANGELES, cA'LI- .EoEN1A,AssmNons, :BY mEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro .ToEnAN .a TAYLOR, mo., o E LosANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A ooEPoaA'rIoN or cALIEoENIA VALVE CONSTRUCTIQN FORGAS lIJIIB'IJ PUMPS Application ilvledeptember 5, 1928. Serial No.804,052.'

I A Our invention relates to the well-pumping art, and more particularlyto a novel valve for use on a gas-lift well pump.

One type of gas-lift pump particularlyA 'Ii advantageous in pumping oilwells isdescribed and claimed in an application of ArthurF. White,filedv August/6, 1928, Serial No. 297,665, entitled Method and apparatusfor pumping wells.I That application 10 discloses a chamber at leastpartially submerged infthe liquid in the lower part of a and forms aportion of a discharge passage communicating', with .the surface of theground Com ressed gas is sup lied to the upper end of t e chamberthrougli a suitable pressure-operated valve which opens when thepressure on one side exceeds the pressure in the chamber by apredetermined amount.

'It is an object of ourinvention to provide a novel form ofressure-operated valve useful, for examp e, in ay gas-lift pumpingmechanism. We have found it advantageous toutilize a valve which will opopenu on theccurrence .of a small iiference o pressure between thecompressed gas passage and the interiorfof the pumping chamber, andwhich will remain Qpen as long as any compressed gas is passing throughthe valve.

It is an object of our invention to provide a valve structure which willpop openupon the occurrence of 'a small difference in pressure, andwhich will remain open during the through.

A further object of 'our invention is. to

provide a valve member which 'is-pivoted provide a valve member carryinga floating l `valve head adapted to engage a valve seat and therebycontrol the passage 0f the .gas

through a passage. l

Further objects and advantages of our invention will be made evidenthereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, in which we illustrate a preferred lform ofour inven-l Fig. 1 is a invention as applied to one type o gas pump.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionaPview ofthe valve of our invention, 'y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.' 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4,-4' of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing thevalve in a closed position. Fig. 6 is a face view of one end of thevalve member ofour invention taken in the direction of arrow 6-6 of Fig.2. v

Referrin particularly .to Fig. 1, in which one type o gas-lift pum isillustrated, the numeral 8 represents a we lI in which a casin 9 hasbeen set, this'casing bein perforate at its lower endto allow welluid toenter therein, this well-fluid rising to .a liquidlevel indicated b thenumeral 1Q.'l A head 11 is ormed on the upper end of the casing 9 and arimar tubing 13 extends through 'this hea andM ownward into` the well,and supports at its lower end a gas-lift umping mechanism 14'incorporating our Invention.l The upper end of the primary tubing 13 isclosed bl a head 16 through whiehfta secondary tu ing 17 pelsses. hTh t'h gas- 1 pumping mechanism 14 as a ea une t at a cqf'mplessed gas 1Spai-Sslng there 18threadedly received by the lower end of the primarytubing 13, this head havin a bore 19 providing a seat 2O .against whic aplug member 21 fits in fluid-tight relationship, this plug member beinthreadedly received by the lower en d o the secondary tubing 17. A -bore23 through the plug member 21 communicates with the interior of thesecondary tubing and also with a bore 24 formed axially in the head 1.8.A similar bore 25 is formed upward in the head 18 and to one side of theaxis thereof, I'the bores 24 and 25 being in communication witheachother.

utility view illustratin our A shell 28 is threadedly received by thelower end of the head 18 and cooperates therewith to form a pumpingchamber 29. A delivery tube 30 is threadedly received by the bore 25 andextends downward in one side of the chamber 29to a point near the lowerend thereof. This chamber is quite` long and should be at leastpartially sub` `1 8 and communicates at one end with the annular spacebetween the primary and secondary tubings 13 and 17 and at the other endwith a pocket 36 formed in thel lower face of the head 18. This pocketis threaded and adapted to receive a plug 37 forming a part of a valvebody 38 which in turn is a part of the pressure-operated valve mechanism4() of our invention. This valve body is substantially round and extendsinto the pumping chamber 29 on the opposite side of the axis thereoffrom the delivery tube 30.

An inlet passage42 is formed in the valve body 38 so as to communicatewith the passage 35 when the plug 37 is threaded in the pocket 36. Thelower end of the passage 42 communicates with a pressurev chamber 45which in turn communicates with the chamber 29 through a longitudinalchannel 46 formed along the valve body 38.

The pressure chamber 45 is formed as indicated in Fig. 2 and iscylindrical in crosssection when viewed in the direction indii cated bythe arrow 6 6. A seat 47 is formed at the junction of the intake passage42 and the pressure chamber 45, this seat being contacted by a primaryvalve head 48.

The head 48 and the seat 47 cooperate to formy the primary valvestructure 50 of our invention.

As best illustrated in Figs. 2v and 3, the primary valve head 48 iscarried in one .end of a valve member 52 extending in the longitudinalchannel 46 and pivoted on an axis A-A formed by -a pin 53, this pinextending through the portions of the valve body on either side of t-hechannel 46, and also through the valve member 52, so that this valvemember may be regulated on this pin.

On the upper end of the valve member 52 is formed a head 55 which' iscircular in shape and adapted to extend a short distance into thepressure chamber 45, the innermost position being-determined when theprimary valve head 48 contacts the 'seat 47, which position is shown infull lines on Fig. 2. The.

valve member is held in this position by a compression spring 56 whichextends into channels 57 and 58 formed respectively in the lower ends ofthe valve body 38 and valve member 52.

As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the primary valve head 48 isdesigned to loat relative to the upper end of the valve member 52, thisoating action taking place because of ,the fact that this valve head isslightly smaller than the opening 59 in -which it fits. l

The head is retained in position by means of an annular channel 60 whichretains an enlargement 61 formed on the rear of the head 48. The head isinserted in place through a threaded opening 62 which is normally closedby a threaded plug 63, this plug being held in position by a pin 64passing through a channel 65 thereof and ,through the valve member 52,as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The plug .63 is screwed into the opening62 a suiiicient distance so that the head 48 may not be tightly clampedin place but may move in the opening 59 a short distance, which ispreferably infthe neighborhoodvof several thousandths of an inch.v Apressure-relief passage 67 communicates between the channel 65 and theannular channel 60 so that this channel will be at the same pressure asthe pumping chamber 29.

As best illustrated in Fig. 1, a vcntpassage 68 is formed through thehead 18 and communicates with the interior of the casing 9./

The lower end of this vent passage communicates with an annular channel69 formed in the upper end of the valve body 38 and lying adjacent tothe lower faceof the head 18 when the plug 37 is screwed into the pocket36. The annular channel 69 in rturn com municates with an outlet passage70 extend ing downward through the valve body 38 and communicating wlththe pump chamber 29 through the longitudinal channel 46.

A seat 71 is defined at the point where the voutlet passage 70 opens onthe longitudinal channel 46. A secondary valve head 72 is adapted toengage the seat 71 when thevalve member 52 is in its dotted lineposition indicated by the numeral 73-of Fig. 2, the seclas ondary valvehead 72 and the seat 71 coopopening 59 in which the primary valve head48 is placed. The head 72 has an enlarge ment 77 which may slide in anannular channel 78, the outer end of which is threaded to receive a plug79. A compression spring 80 is compressed between the plug 79 and thehead 72 and serves the purpose of normally holding the enlargement 77against a ledo'e 81 which separates the annular channel 78 communicatesbetween the annular channel 78 and the pumping chamber 29 and is for apurpose analogous to the pressure-relief channel 67.` The spring 80 iscompressed, as

shown in Fig. 5, when the valve member 52 assumes its position indicatedby dotted lines l 7 3, thus insuring a. tight closure of the secondaryvalve structure 74.

The operation of our invention is as follows:

With the valve member 52 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2,the upper portion. of the chamber 29 'is 'vented to the exterior of thepumping mechanism 14, thus 'allowing liquid to rise in the pumpingchamber 29 to a level corresponding to the liquidlevel 10 of the well.The compressed gas is at this time forced through a pipe 86 whichcommunicates with the annular space between the primary and secondarytubings 13 and 17 The flow' of this compressed gas is determined by a1Jsuitable intermittent valve 87, the particular form of which does notform a part of this invention. This compressed gas passes downwardVbetween the annular space in the tubi/iig and through the passages 35and 42 and builds up apressure against the primary valve head 48.

'When this pressure becomes suiliciently greater than the pressure inthe pumping chamber 29, the spring 56 will be Vcompressed and theprimary valve structure willopen slightly,-thus allowing the compressedgas to enter the compression chamber 45. As the pressure in this chamberbuilds up, the valve member 52 is thrownA into its dotted line position73,. thus compressing the spring 56. At this time the compressed gas.enters the upper end of the pumping chamber 29, and forces the liguidtherein upward through the delivery tu 30 and through the secondary tube17 to the surface of the ground. A check valve 82 in -the lower end ofthe delivery tube 30 prevents any return .flow of the liquid.

It should be clear that as soon as the prii' mary valve structure 50pops open, and the valve member 52assumes its dotted line position 73,the inrushing gas will impinge against an impact face 83 formed on thehead '55. This impingin of the inrushing gas holds the valve mem er -52in its dotted line position against the action ofthespring 56 valvemember 52 pivoting on the pin 53.

Any further movement of the valve member 52 after `the yvalve structure74 is closed merely compresses the spring 80. This closing of thesecondary valve structure prevents any of the liquid or gas in thepumping chamber 29 from: passing through the out-- let 'passage 70 andthe vent passage 68.

When at least a portion of the liquid in thel pumping chamber 29 hasbeen discharged upward through .the delivery tube 30, the intermittentvalve 87 closes, thus cutting off the supply of compressed gas to theannular space between the tubing 13 and 17. This stops the flow ofcompressed gas through the inlet passag 42 and consequently removes ingthe upper end of the chamber 29 to the exterior of the pumping mechanism14 through the outlet passage and the vent passage 68. At this time theprimary valve structure 50 is closed and remains so until a new supplyof compressed gas is .forced downward from the surface of the ground, atwhich time this sequence of operations is repeated.

The particular construction of the valve heads 48 and 72 with respecttothe valve member 52 is an important part of o ur in- Y ventioninasmuch as the floating action of these valve heads allows them tofirmly engage the' seats 47 and 7.1' respectively. If it were not forthis floating action, 1t would be` necessary to very accurately machinethe ends of the valve heads so that they will alternately come intosurface contact with their respective seats when the valve member 52 ismoved.

The pressure chamber 45 is also an important part of our invention. Wehave found that a valve that is pressure-operated directly againsttheaction of the spring will tend A to chatter -when the pressure inthechamber 29 builds up, due to the fact that a yed'etermined difference ofpressure must maintained between the inlet passage 42 and the chamber 29before such a valve will open and stay open.

We have further found 'that the fparticular shape of valve-illustratedis very effective 1n performing the desired function, this valve takinup a relatively small amount of room. So, a so, the placing of theLdelivery tube 30 ',the force hol ing the valve member 52 in its Y to oneside of the chamber 29 is important to our invention inasmuch as such aposition allows adequate room for any valve that may be inserted in thechamber.

It should be understood that our invention is not limited to theparticular use shown, but is also applicable to any installation whereit is desirable to have a pressure-operated valve which in a singlemovement uncovers a. fluid-intake passage and closes a fluid-outletpassage. Our invention should thus not be limited other than by thesubjectlmatter defined, and the nomenclature used,

in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In combination, a cylindrical valve body including a'pressure-fiuidpassage, a pressure chamber, a valve seat located in said pressurechamber in communication with said pressure-fluid passage, an outletpassage, a valve seat at the entrance of said outlet passage, alongitudinal channel, a spring channel; a valve member pivotally mountedin said longitudinal channel and including a circular head forming animpact face positioned at one end `of said valve memberand arranged toproject into said valve body pressure chamber, and a spring channelpositioned adjacent said valve body spring channel; a primary valveloosely mounted in said valve member circular head whereby said primaryvalve will close said pressurefluid inlet passage; a secondary valveloosely and resiliently mounted in said valve member and arranged toclose said outlet passage valve seat when said primary valve opens;

and a spring member arranged in said valve Qbody and valve member springchannels to resiliently hold said valve member in position to close saidprimary valve. 1

2. In combination, a valve body including a pressure-Huid passage, apressure chamber, a valve seat located'in said pressure chamber g incommunication with said pressure-Huid passa-ge, an outlet passage, avalve seat `at the entrance of said outlet passage, and a longitudinalchannel; a valve-carrying member pivotally mounted in said longitudinalchannel and including a circular head positioned at one end and arrangedt-o project into said valve body pressure chamber; a primary valveloosely mounted in said valve-carrying member circular head and arrangedto contact said pressure-fluid valve seat; a secondarv valve loosely andresiliently mounted in said valve-carrying member and arranged tocontact said outlet passage valve seat when said primary valve opens; aspring member- 'arranged to resiliently hold said valve member inposition-to close said primary valve whereby the pressure of thepressure-fluid forces said primary valve to open and the velocity andpressure of the pressure-fluid acting upon said valve-carrying membercircular head holds said -valve open untll sald` velocity and pressurefall below a predetermined value. x

3. In combination, a valve body including a pressure-fluid'passaqe, apressure chamber,

3a valve seat located in said pressure chamber in communication withsaid pressure-fluid passage, an outlet passage, a valve seat at theentrance of said outlet passage; a valve-carrying member pivotallymounted on said valve body and including a eircularuhead positioned toproject into said valve body pressure chamber; a primary valve suitablymounted on said valve-carrying member; a secondary valve loosely andresiliently mounted in said valve-carrying member and arranged tocontact said outlet passage valve seat when said primary valve opens; aspring member arranged to resiliently hold said valve member `inposition to close said primary valve. v

4. In combination, a valve body including a pressure-fluid passage, apressure chamber, a valve seat located in said pressure chamber incommunication l withl said pressure-fluid passage, an outlet passage, avalve seat at the entrance of said outlet passage; a valve-carryingmember pivotally mounted on said valve body and including a circularhead having a reactance groove positioned to be acted upon by thepressure-Huid; a primary valve suitably mounted on said valve-carryingmember; a secondary valve loosely and resiliently mounted in saidvalve-'carrying member and arranged to contact said outlet passage valveseat; and a spring member arranged to resiliently hold said valve memberimposition to close said primary valve.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles,California, this 31st day of August, 1928.

ARTHUR F. WHITE. FRANK W. JORDAN.

